Blackgum (Black Tupelo) Tree - Red Leaves in Fall - Late October 2026
We have a small caliper, immature (and short-in-height) Blackgum tree that I planted in our front yard parkway in April of 2025 . A few weeks earlier (as I was shopping for this very tree), I wrote a "getting to know" post about the Blackgum (or Black Tupelo) tree that is native to Northern Illinois. In that post , I included this (partial) description: "One of the most spectacular and reliable fall coloring trees, turning brilliant shades of red and orange..." Last year, the tree did, indeed, turn a lovely color for fall. Red. Here it was in mid-November when the leaves were still on the tree and the tree was crimson-colored . This year, that same color has returned. About 2 weeks earlier. Here is the tree as it stands right now - at the end of October - below: This tree has really been VERY SLOW TO GROW. As in...has barely put on any growth in two growing seasons. I asked Google's Gemini why that might be?...